My spyder quit on me three time today...

[dltang]

Okay guys, I got home at 1235am and Brian was already in bed. I started reading some of the old threads and with my not so technical female brain here is what I am doing.

Let me start from the beginning first. In a previous thread I noted that my spyder has been backfiring and popping a lot lately. Well the last few days it has been running really sluggish when I first get going. No, I do not normally warm it up to one or two bars before I get on it and I never have. Anyway, on the way to work today it started to sputter, like it had bad gas or wasn't getting any gas. If it had a fuel filter (does it) I would say it felt clogged. Anyway, I was slowing down and I had the clutch pulled in and it just quit. I turned it off, pulled the key, waited a minute, put the key back in and restarted it. No more sputtering but at the next stop sign, it just quit again. After that, no more problems and off to work I went. After work, I went to start spyder and check engine light was on. I started it and light was still on. I turned it off, pulled the key, waited and tryed again. No more check engine light. Started her up and off I went. At my first stop light, you guessed it, spyder just quit. I restarted and off I went. It has been running sluggish until about 2-3 bars just lately.

So back to where I am now. I was reading about resetting ECU. I know we did this when we first installed the Hindle, I am just wondering if it was done again after they put the new gaskets in. Or if it even needs to be done again. I figured what will it hurt. So out to the garage I went. Pulled the panels off the left side and disconnected the negative directly from the battery. I will leave it like this overnight. When I get up, I will reconnect and put her back together. I will also turn her on and let her idle for 15-20 minutes, then out for a 20 minute ride. This may not help one iota, but I figure it sure can't hurt.

So what do you think, am I just a crazy girl and this was a waste of time? or is this something that may actually help? I am seeking all input, constructively please. Thanks in advance guys.

[Lamonster]

I hate to say it but I would get it to your dealer and have them hook it up to the BUDS. You don't want to be dealing with that sort of thing on your trip.

[Spydr in KS]

Last fall I had the situation where the engine cuts off when I pull in the clutch while coming to a stop. Sometimes it would also cut out just as I roll into the gas to take off. I started adding a little ISO-Heet water absorber to the fuel and the problem went away. I just had it cut off on me once this weekend in an intersection so I plan to add some ISO-Heet today. I have not been adding any for a while now. Don't know if this was coincidental or a cure, but maybe worth a dry.

I agree w/ Lamonster you should have the dealer check it over before your trip. There is a way to cheack the codes yourself by using a combo switched on the bars. One of the Austrailian folks has instruction posted on their web site.

[dltang]

I hate to say it but I would get it to your dealer and have them hook it up to the BUDS. You don't want to be dealing with that sort of thing on your trip.

Yup, just got off the phone with the service manager at our dealer. I am running my spyder up there in just a bit. He may not get any codes seeing as I disconnected the battery all night. But he wants me to leave it there today so he can see if it causes him any problems through out the day. He did suggest a possibility but couldn't truly make a determination over the phone. Something about the engine temperature sensor being off and making the engine think it was already running hot when it wasn't even warmed up yet therefore causing it to run lean in the beginning. Anyway, I will keep you updated. I reminded him that I have 26 days before I leave for LA and I want this machine running really well.

[Lamonster]

Hope they figure it out.

[Greg H.]

Interesting. I just turned over 11,500 miles on my Spyder. In the past few hundred miles, I have noticed that sometimes around 35-40mph (while crusing at that speed) it wants to hic-cup (for lack of a better word ) on ocassion. While accelerating, after 3 bars are showing, this isn't the case. And, while running 50-80mph, it seems fine, as well.

I mentioned this to the dealer when I had my new rear tire, and brakes installed a couple of weeks ago, and they mentioned it shouldn't need a tune up this soon. I'm not sure. At speed, everything does seem fine. But, it does seem to stumble a bit more now before it is warmed up.

[tatt2r]

the other day i got up to go to work went out to shed to get spyder out it was very hot in there like that dry heat when i started the check engine light and code came across dash .... i pulled it out of shed shut of key and restarted ...my opinion was that it was sensing overheating before i even started it ...

[bone crusher]

Yup, just got off the phone with the service manager at our dealer. I am running my spyder up there in just a bit. He may not get any codes seeing as I disconnected the battery all night. But he wants me to leave it there today so he can see if it causes him any problems through out the day. He did suggest a possibility but couldn't truly make a determination over the phone. Something about the engine temperature sensor being off and making the engine think it was already running hot when it wasn't even warmed up yet therefore causing it to run lean in the beginning. Anyway, I will keep you updated. I reminded him that I have 26 days before I leave for LA and I want this machine running really well.

Good luck and good idea to take it in...with 26 days, I'm sure they'll figure it out waaaaay before that...all it takes is a sensor or something little...trust me, I'm trying to figure out something on my bike right now...

[Director]

I hope your dealer is able to track down the problem quickly, Deb.

Cheers,

Bruce

[Greg H.]

I hope your dealer is able to track down the problem quickly, Deb.

Cheers,

Bruce

+1

[dltang]

Thanks for all the well wished guys. I will keep you all posted. Spyder is at the dealership as we speak. Of course, it ran better than it has in a few weeks on the way up there. Isn't that always the case? We will see what he finds if anything and I will report on it. Hope to at least hear something one way or another by tomorrow. The service dept is pretty good about getting back to me quickly.

[Firefly]

Could be:

Fuel filter, fuel pump, relay or fuses, bad gas, Bad o2 sensor, loose wires, low battery or magneto problem.

Those are what come to mind first.

You really should let it warm up to 1 bar before riding - you want to make sure the oil is a flowing in a nice warm engine before putting any load on her.

[bone crusher]

Could be:

Fuel filter, fuel pump, relay or fuses, bad gas, Bad o2 sensor, loose wires, low battery or magneto problem.

Those are what come to mind first.

You really should let it warm up to 1 bar before riding - you want to make sure the oil is a flowing in a nice warm engine before putting any load on her.

I am still a little confused (what's new) about the whole 1 bar thing...I've never warmed up any vehicle I've ever owned and I've never had a problem...why is this particular engine so much more sensitive to 'warming up.' Don't get me wrong...I don't pound the engine when I first get going, but I will get on a highway within a minute or two...

And don't talk about 'Magneto' problems...your X-Men affinity goes over the top a little here and there!

[Smylinacha]

I let mine warm up to 1 bar because it feels sluggish if I don't. Well HDX doesn't let it warm up - he just gooses it and off he goes.

I noticed my ran worse after a while and it was the gaskets that went. It ran, backfired, hiccuped and smelled real bad of fumes.

Even before the new gaskets and with the new gaskets it seems to backfire more in humid, damp weather. Seems to run best on a 50-60 degree day.

Also once on a very hot day last summer we were at Starbucks and it was sitting in the sun for a while. It was HOT and very humid out. Check engine light went on as soon as I left the parking lot. Shut it down, started it up again and never had the problem again.

[dltang]

I let mine warm up to 1 bar because it feels sluggish if I don't. Well HDX doesn't let it warm up - he just gooses it and off he goes.

I noticed my ran worse after a while and it was the gaskets that went. It ran, backfired, hiccuped and smelled real bad of fumes.

Even before the new gaskets and with the new gaskets it seems to backfire more in humid, damp weather. Seems to run best on a 50-60 degree day.

Also once on a very hot day last summer we were at Starbucks and it was sitting in the sun for a while. It was HOT and very humid out. Check engine light went on as soon as I left the parking lot. Shut it down, started it up again and never had the problem again.

I've had the gaskets changed. I don't get a gas smell. It has just started getting worse slowly. An awful lot of backfiring and popping lately. I have the utmost confidence in my service manager so we will wait and see.

[Smylinacha]

Can't wait to hear the diagnosis. Nice you got a good dealer! We got one of those too. So glad I got mine where I did.

Hope it's nothing major. I think since the Spyder is so computerized it's gonna have it's little quirks. Probably a simple fix!

[Firefly]

I've had the gaskets changed. I don't get a gas smell. It has just started getting worse slowly. An awful lot of backfiring and popping lately. I have the utmost confidence in my service manager so we will wait and see.

Are you running the Hindle?

Sounds like your O2 sensor might have gone bad and is causing you to run even leaner than the normal Spyder lean---- If your dealer can't get ahold of one quickly - let me know as I'm not using mine - got Ken's O2 mod instead -

[dltang]

Are you running the Hindle?

Sounds like your O2 sensor might have gone bad and is causing you to run even leaner than the normal Spyder lean---- If your dealer can't get ahold of one quickly - let me know as I'm not using mine - got Ken's O2 mod instead -

Thanks you, that is very kind. I will let him know. I was thinking it may have something to do with that because yes I am still running the Hindle. But there are so many things to look into. I will call him tomorrow and put that bug in his ear. Thanks again Firefly.

[Lamonster]

Another thing that comes to mind is low battery and/or bad ground.

[dltang]

Roger called and they have had the spyder hooked up to the BUDS and everything else. The only issue they can find is a bad oil pressure sensor. They have to order the part so I will be spyderless until one day next week it looks like. They can not find any other problems, not other codes, the spyder is coming up clean. O2 sensor is good, doesn't appear to be any exhaust leaks etc. Don't know if there is any way that this part could have caused my current problems but Roger (service Manager) did say, it is a good thing we found this now. If that had gone out completely on the road, there could have been some real problems. When I know more and have a full diagnosis, I will post the info.

[aubierules]

Good luck and good idea to take it in...with 26 days, I'm sure they'll figure it out waaaaay before that...all it takes is a sensor or something little...trust me, I'm trying to figure out something on my bike right now...

what?!?!? an sm5 messing up, now thats unheard of...now if it were an se5 i could understand

[Smylinacha]

Keep us posted Deb. Glad they found that before your trip! I think if I ever go on a really long trip I'm gonna map out all the Spyder dealers on the way for just in case!

[bone crusher]

what?!?!? an sm5 messing up, now thats unheard of...now if it were an se5 i could understand

Ambie,

This is a problem specific to one bike, not the entire line! A bad sensor can happen to any of us...

If you wanna go tit for tat, I'll betcha there are plenty more SE5 problems...at least until a new model comes out...then that bike will be the one with more issues!

oh, wait a sec...I'm adding to my post here...Ambie, you're referring to my bike situation...gotcha...no, the error on my side was caused by a buddy of mine helping me with an install of a mod...he did it wrong and it created all types of electrical problems! It's not the bike's fault, it's my buddy's fault...darn buddies...have to keep an eye on them at all times!!!

[NancysToy]

what?!?!? an sm5 messing up, now thats unheard of...now if it were an se5 i could understand

Ambie,

This is a problem specific to one bike, not the entire line! A bad sensor can happen to any of us...

If you wanna go tit for tat, I'll betcha there are plenty more SE5 problems...at least until a new model comes out...then that bike will be the one with more issues!

C'mon guys, enough rock throwing, already. How about shaking hands and letting this stuff alone?
-Scotty

[jeuchler]

C'mon guys, enough rock throwing, already. How about shaking hands and letting this stuff alone?
-Scotty

...This is where folks start saying "and besides, the silver one is faster..."